A 25-year veteran of the Wicomico County, Md., prosecutor’s office was killed Friday and another attorney in the office was injured when a driver reportedly pulled out in front of them on a state road.

Members of the legal community expressed shock at the sudden death of Sampson Vincent, 52. As the deputy state’s attorney, Vincent was second in command of the office and was also respected for his dedication to his work, his integrity and his mentoring of young attorneys, reports the Delmarva Daily Times.

Assistant state’s attorney James Lee Britt, 34, who was a passenger in Vincent’s vehicle, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash, reports a Daily Times police brief. The driver of the other vehicle was treated and released.

Dorchester County State’s Attorney William Jones, a former Salisbury public defender who got used to losing when trying cases against Vincent a decade ago, tells the newspaper he felt fortunate to bring Vincent in to try a bank robbery case from which he himself was conflicted out. The case was difficult, because the suspect wore a mask, but Vincent, as usual, prevailed.

“It seems to me he usually took me to school,” says Jones of his own experience trying cases against Vincent. “I don’t know that I ever beat Sam in a jury trial. The pleasant thing about it was that it was never personal.”

A Daily Times obituary provides further details about Vincent’s life and information about services.